Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees Election Candidate Registration Opens
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2024
The Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees November 5, 2024 General Election of four seats opened up on Monday, July 22, 2024 with the incumbents registering for re-election at the District’s Board Room, located at 587 Madison Street, in Eagle Pass, Texas, including Board President Jorge Barrera, Board Secretary Dr. Hector Alvarez, Jr., and Board members Glenna Purcell and Christopher Hiller.
A fifth Board of Trustees seat is vacant as a result of the death of former longtime school board member Lupita Fuentes on April 1, 2024, which the Board has yet to appoint a new Trustee to serve the unexpired term of Ms. Fuentes after almost four months since her passing. Under the Texas Election Code, the Eagle Pass Independent School District Board of Trustees have up to six months to appoint a new Trustee to serve the unexpired term of Ms. Fuentes.
Also registering for the School Board of Trustees Election was Albert Daniel for Place 7 currently held by Glenna Purcell.
Albert Daniel is a life long resident of Eagle Pass and a graduate of Eagle Pass High School. He is a retired U. S. Army veteran having served in the Vietnam War, Iraqi War, and served in the U. S. Customs and Border Protection for many years until his retirement from federal government service.
The Candidate Registration period is open from July 20, 2024 through August 19, 2024. Any person interested in running for the EPISD Board of Trustees may pick up a copy of the application at the EPISD Central Administrative Office at 587 Madison Street with Deputy Superintendent and Election Administrator Ismael Mijares or downloading it online at the District’s website: www.eaglepassisd.net. For more information, please contact Susana Perez at (830) 773-5181.
Present at the July 22nd candidate registration were EPISD Board of Trustees Vice-President Hilda P. Martinez and Victor E. Perry as well as Elections Administrator Ismael Mijares and Superintendent Samuel Mijares who was present as an observer.
The EPISD is owned by the residents and taxpayers of Eagle Pass and Maverick County. Many taxpayers would like to see the EPISD Board of Trustees either appoint a new Trustee to fill the vacancy of former Board member Lupita Fuentes or have it placed on the ballot of the November 5, 2024 General Election. The EPISD Board of Trustees is composed of seven seats, but has been conducting business with only six Trustees since the passing of Ms. Fuentes on April 1, 2024. Several local residents have expressed interest in being considered as a replacement of Ms. Fuentes’ place on the Board of Trustees.
Any Maverick County resident who is a U. S. citizen may register as a candidate for one of the four Board seats on the scheduled November 5, 2024 General Election by picking up an application at the EPISD Administrative Office or downloading from the District website, filling it out, and filing it with the Election Administrator Ismael Mijares on or before August 19, 2024.
The EPISD is the largest employer in Maverick County with 810 teachers, 1,737 staff persons, and had over 13,300 students enrolled in 24 campuses within the District. The graduation rate of EPISD students is reported as 97.6 percent. The EPISD is an important entity in the community.
